Optometrists are healthcare professionals who specialize in caring for eyes. They examine, diagnose, and treat diseases and disorders that affect vision. Optometrists perform eye exams to identify any problems in vision and can prescribe many of the most common treatments needed to correct vision, including eyeglasses, contact lenses, low vision, and medications to treat eye diseases. They can also identify and monitor eye conditions related to other diseases, like diabetes, and treat common eye issues, like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Optometrists cannot perform eye surgery, but they can prescribe medications and treat eye diseases.

The key responsibilities of optometrists include:

• Providing vision tests and eye exams
• Prescribing and fitting corrective lenses
• Identifying and monitoring eye conditions related to other diseases, like diabetes
• Treating common eye issues, like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration

Optometrists are different from ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors (MD) or doctors of osteopathy (DO) who have attended medical school and are qualified to diagnose and treat any condition that can affect eyes and vision, including performing surgery on eyes. Opticians, on the other hand, work with optometrists and ophthalmologists. They usually have a two-year technical degree or certification and fit patients for glasses, contacts, or other vision correction aids.

In summary, optometrists are healthcare professionals who specialize in caring for eyes. They examine, diagnose, and treat diseases and disorders that affect vision, prescribe and fit corrective lenses, and identify and monitor eye conditions related to other diseases. They cannot perform eye surgery, but they can prescribe medications and treat eye diseases.